Hello world! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted anything on the blog. I’m not really sure why. Part boredom… part fear… part discouragement. I’m sure no one wants to get lost in the weeds of the particulars with me. Nonetheless, I am back and I want to welcome you to my little corner of the internet. I thought it would be a good idea to reintroduce myself to all the new readers. I’m so glad you’ve landed on my page and hope you stick around.
I’m Jennifer… a Plus Size fashionista in my mid-forties, living in the Midwest. Though I am a Music Educator by trade, I have a passion for blogging and content creation. The reality is, my students were the ones who encouraged me to begin writing and sharing photos of my outfits in the first place. After years of students teasing me for never wearing the same thing twice and encouraging them to be comfortable in their own skin, Forty Fat and Fabulous was born.
The main focus of my blog is Body Positivity. I want to encourage people of every shape and size to love themselves exactly as they are right now! I share brands, books, and experiences that celebrate Plus Size bodies. I will also add in little sprinkles of my other loves… food, travel, fandom, and fun. More than anything, I want to focus my blog, my Instagram, and all other media things I do on five main things…
All Bodies Are Good Bodies: It took me almost forty years to look at myself in the mirror and like who I saw reflected back. I know it’s hard to tune out the people who want to tell us that we are somehow unworthy of love, kindness, or equality because of the way we look. Though I am not perfect, and I have bad days… weeks… months… I have grown to love who I am. Not the idea of who I could be… but ME, right now. I want to encourage others to feel the same way. I want you to know that you are beautiful and special BECAUSE of who you are, not in spite of it.
Wear What Makes You Happy: My clothes are an extension of who I am. I like to wear tutus on Tuesdays. I like to wear sequins because they help me shine. I like color, and novelty prints, and vintage silhouettes. But, I also like hoodies, and jeans, and being cozy. My style isn’t always one thing, and that’s ok. I dress to please my own mind and heart. I want to encourage you to wear what brings you joy, no matter what “they” say is cool.
There Is Always Something To Celebrate: Let’s face it… the world has been pretty gloomy over the last few years. That’s why it’s important to celebrate the silliest things. I want to find the joy in little moments… and go all out for the big ones, I’ve been known to dress up in a Hawaiian print dress, spin some Polynesian music, and make mai-tais for dinner just because I played the ukulele that day. I’ll open the sunroof and claim it’s spring because I saw one little green leaf growing in the yard. Plus, I wear something festive every day leading up to a holiday. I want to have fun and celebrate often… it makes things feel better, even for a moment.
Be Unique, Honest, and Authentic: I know social media can feel very discouraging. Scrolling through Instagram and TikTok can create the illusion that there is something wrong with us. Our house isn’t pretty enough. Our lives aren’t perfect enough. Our whole demeanor isn’t polished enough. It weighs heavy and makes us feel small. I want to create a place that is real. I want to look pretty, and polished, and cool… but I also want to be messy, and raw, and imperfect. I want to make a space for ordinary, normal-type people to feel safe and special, even for a moment.
Love Loud and Encourage Often: Above everything, I want to remind every single person that I come in contact with that they matter. I have struggled with mental health, acceptance, and belonging my whole life. I want to do everything in my power to help other people avoid that pain. We have to work harder to love each other and hold each other up.
Again, I am so glad that you’re reading this post. My goal is to post something new every Monday. I hope you subscribe and join me on the journey. Go follow my Instagram for daily outfit inspirations while you’re at it. Leave me a comment and let me know what you’d like to hear about. Let’s go make the world a more beautiful, kind, and colorful place together.
Forty Fat and Fabulous 